The Banyan tree which is sometimes called the strangler fig starts life as a seed deposited in a crack of a host tree. It usually gets there in the droppings of fruit eating birds. The seedling then sends roots down to the ground and the resulting growth then wraps itself around the host tree hence the name strangler fig.
Older trees are characterised by their aerial roots and if you look on the photograph you can see them hanging down from the tree on the left. You might also notice the coloured ribbons which are sometimes placed around trees in Thailand as a mark of respect to the spirits that live there.
The you sapling in foreground may be a Bodhi Tree which is also a type of fig with heart shaped leafs and revered in Buddhism.
The photograph is taken in the grounds of Wat Nong Prue near Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Equipment: Canon EOS 1000D 55mm Lens
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